Prologue
The sun rose on a scorching afternoon as Hugo stood in front of his tent. Sweat dripped from his chin as he picked up a canteen filled with water. He held it in his hand for a moment, looking inside.
Nearly empty...
After taking a long gulp, he screwed the cap back on. He looked out across the barren desert, squinting his eyes as he tried to make out anything but sand. Stretching his arms over his head, he groaned as his joints cracked. The sound echoed across the wavy dunes as he rubbed his eyes. He approached the only road for miles around, the mile markers the only indicator of how far he has come. He read one of the signs.
40 miles to San Bernardino
To his chagrin, it appeared he still had a way to go until he reached his destination. He picked up his knapsack and broke down his camp, removing the sticks holding up his tent and rolling it up. Once finished, he tied everything down before pulling out his compass. Wiping the glass cover, Hugo started turning until he faced north. Once the needle stopped moving, he walked; only one thing was on his mind.
Zuri…
